BETH Donaghy thought she was being asked for directions when a woman stopped to speak to her on her way into the Clothes Show last year.

BETH Donaghy thought she was being asked for directions when a woman stopped to speak to her on her way into the Clothes Show last year.

It turned out this woman was to change her life.

She was Chrissie Castagnetti, the owner of Select Models and she knew that, at just 15, she wanted Beth on her books.

“I’d only just stepped through the doors of the NEC when Chrissie stopped me,” said Beth, now 16 and from Tidbury Green, near Solihull.

“I was just shopping with my friend and our mums, I couldn’t believe it.”

Select have launched the careers of some of the UK’s top models, including Daisy Lowe, Sienna Miller and Agnes Deyn.

They now also manage the modelling careers of The Saturdays, Pixie Lott, Sarah Harding and Eliza Doolittle.

Since being scouted, Beth has been busy doing lots of photoshoots, including a presentation at London Fashion Week.

“It was for a brand called Sisca by Sibling,” said Beth, who is hoping to study psychology at university.

“I had no idea what to expect. There were so many photographers.

“I had to sit and pose on a carousel horse. It was fun.

“I also did a festival fashion shoot for a magazine which was really cool.

“Everyone thinks modelling is so glamorous but we were in a park in London so there were random dogs running after us, we had to get changed behind a screen and pose by tents with passersby staring at us.

“That said it didn’t shatter my dreams at all, I loved it!”

The modelling industry has been criticised for encouraging young girls to be too slim.

But, despite being a model, Beth says she eats more than all her friends.

She said: “I don’t have to be careful about what I eat because I have a high metabolism.

“I probably eat the most out of all of us. I know I have a bit of a responsibility to look after myself though.”

She has kept her modelling career a secret – until now.

“My mum and dad are really supportive,” she said.

“Mum’s strict too about making sure I still concentrate on my education.

“My gran and grandad love it, they’re always asking for pictures. I didn’t want people to know at school so I only told my closest friends.

“Then I had people coming up and saying ‘are you a model?’ and I’d say it’s just a rumour.

“But it’s certainly better than having a paper round!”

Select Models will be scouting at Clothes Show Live, Birmingham NEC from December 2-7. For more information, visit www.selectmodels.com or www.clothesshowlive.com. There is also an online competition to find the Face of the Clothes Show 2011. Visit the Osoblog at www.osoyou.com to find out more.